Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 30, 2013 02:30 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Patrick J. Harkins |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Co-sponsorship of the Ophthalmic Dispensing Practice and Licensure Act |
| In the near future, I will introduce the Ophthalmic Dispensing Practice and Licensure Act to require the professional licensure of opticians. Currently, Pennsylvania opticians prepare and dispense lenses and eyeglasses to the wearers based upon prescriptions from licensed physicians. As part of this process, opticians must interpret, measure, adapt, fit and otherwise adjust these lenses and eyeglasses as means of correcting vision. However, they are not required to be licensed. Therefore, I intend to introduce legislation that is quite comprehensive in that it establishes the State Board of Ophthalmic Dispensers and denotes the powers and duties of the board, such as the ability to regulate fees, promulgate regulations and authorize written and practical portions of testing. This measure also creates general qualifications for licensure and renewal of licenses, as well as the ability to grant, refuse, revoke, limit or suspend any license to practice ophthalmic dispensing in this Commonwealth. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |